Dimension indicating and control device



June 18, 1946. Y 2,402,293

DIMENSION INDICATING AND CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 7, 1944 4Sheets-Sheet 1 l1 PH. (D 4. H!

INVENTOR. l) NQRMAN H.NYE -L 5 AT TORNEYS June 18, 1946.

N. H. NYE

DIMENSION INDICATING AND CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 7, 1944 4Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

NORMAN mws AT TORNEYS June lag-1946. N. H. NYE 2,402,293

INVENTOR. NORMAN H.NYE

ATTORNEYS June 18, 1946. N. H. NYE

DIMENSION INDICATING AND CONTROL DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April '7,1944 INVENTOR.

NOR MAN H.NYE

BY KMMQQ ATTORNEYS Patented June 18, 1946 DIMENSION U D STATES PATENTon-ice 2,402,293 m roa'rmc. sup CONTROL nnvlcn Norman H. Nye, CuyahogaFalls, Ohio, assignor to The Vaughn Machinery Company, Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio, acorporation of. Ohio Application April 7, 1944, Serial No.529,991 a 13 Claims. 1

, a length of continuouslymoving wire or similar ,elongatcd work-pieceis rapidly rotatively oscillated about its axis while grinding orequivalent paratus for surface conditioning a continuously moving wire,and in association therewith my present improved dimension indicatingand control device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through such device, the plane of thesection coinciding with the axis or the continuously moving wire orequivalent work-piece;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section or the device, the

plane of the section being indicated by line 3-3 mechanical surfaceconditioning means are caused to contact with such oscillating portionor.

length of the wire. However, the present improvements are applicable toindicate and control the dimension of such a continuously movingwork-piece irrespective of whether it be thus oscillated or rotatedabout its axis, and irrespective of the particular'means employed toproduc such I oscillation or rotation.

One principal object of the invention is to utiline for the statedpurpose a measuring instrument ofthe pneumatic typ i. e. in whichchanges produced by the tool in the work-piece affect a fluid pressureresponsive. device' which serves either to indicate such changes or toadjust the position of such tool, or both.

A further object is to provide means whereby the-longitudinal travel ofthe work-piece as well a the operation of such tool will be interruptedin the event the change produced by the tool in the work-piece is lessthan that intended. A further object is to provide a dimensionindicating and control device for use with a continuously movingworkspiece which will be extremely sensitive and capable of operatingwhere such movement' is at ahigh rate of speed. c. g. on the order ofone hundred feet per minute.

To the accomplishment of the ,foregoing and related ends, saidinvention,.then-,=consists er the Fig. 4 is an end view of the tooladjusting device; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section thereof and of the associated grindingtools which constitut the specific surface conditioning mechanismapplied to the wire in the illustrative apparatus of Fig. 1. The surfaceconditioning apparatus chosen for the purpose of illustration in Fig. 1is substantlally that of the above-identified co-p nding application inwhich, as previously stated, a length of continuously moving wire W orsimilar elongated work-piece is rapidly rotatively oscillated about itsaxis while grinding or equivalent mechanical surface conditioning meansare caused to contact with such oscillating portion or length of thewire. The wire, by which term it is intended to include as well rod orequivalent lon itudinally extended work-piece, is drawn from a- 9conventional reel I through thevarious devices which will now bedescribed, by means of a takeup reel 2 shown as being driven by anelectric motor 3. Ordinarily the wire will be first passed through adrawing die 4 which serves slightly to means hereinafter fully describedand particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the followin description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means of andfrictionally engage the wire. These rolls which are relativelyadjustable so as to grip the constituting. however, but one of variousmecham ical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view more or lessreduce the diameter thereof and render the crosssection more nearlycircular than in the case of the stock material supplied to reel i.Thereupon the wire passes in succession through an oscillating device 5,between opposed grinding wheels 6 improvements are primarily concerned.Desir-' ably, although not necessarily, a guide 9 will be interposedbetween thelatter and the take-up drum or reel 2.

The oscillating device 5 may take on various forms, that illustratedcomprising a pair of gripper rolls l0, l0 adapted to define the path oftravel wire with the required degree of pressure, are carried by atubular member Ii Journalled in a suit-. able support l2, said memberbeing connected through suitable gearing It with a motor H diagrammaticin character illustrating an ap whereby said memberisrapidly oscillatedthrough at least 180.- Such oscillation of the member H and thus of thegripping rolls will cause the 4 I travelling length of the wire or rod Wwhich lies between the supply and take-up means, or specifically theportion thereof which lies between the drives take-up reel or drum 2.Actually. as shown diagrammatically on Fig. l, the power line thuscontrolled may serve all of the motors which die 4 and guide 9, to belikewise torsionally oscillated through at least 160 at eachoscillation.

The two-grinding wheels 6 and I which constitute the illustrated surfaceconditioning means between the wire engaging faces of the grindingwheels 2' and lmay be. correspondingly 'varled.

From the foregoing arrangement of work-piece oscillating means andgrinding means it will be seen that as a work-piece, e. g. the wire W,ad'- vances longitudinally from supply to take-up means it will at thesame time be oscillated to a sufficient extent to bring its entiresurface into contact with the opposed overlapping faces ofthe grindingwheels 6 and 1. Accordingly by proper adjustment of such wheelsthe'work-piece will be ground down, not only to remove all surfaceimperfections, but to leave the work-piece of predetermined diameter.Also by employing proper material for the grinding wheels such surfacemay at the same time be highly polished.

The dimension indicating and control device I through which the wirepasses immediately following its engagement with the grinding discs orwheels 6 and I, such wheels illustrating any suitable form of work-piececonditioning means, is illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 and .3. As thereshown, such device comprises a housing 20 having a cylindrical bore 2|in which is fitted a. tubular member 22, such tubular member beingaxially aligned with the moving work-piece, e. g. wireW. Firmly securedin the respective ends of the member are dies 23, the openings in whichare accurately gauged so as to provide a predetermined clearance for thewire whenthe latter is of desired cross-section. While member 22 isclosely fitted in the bore 2|, and sealing rings 22 are in additionprovided adjacent its respective ends, said member is neverthelesscapable of being displaced longitudinally of said bore by excessivefrictional engagement of the wire with said dies 23. In other words, ifthe diameter of the wire is not reduced sufilcientlyby the grindingmeans the effect of its resulting frictional engagement with the dieswill be to displace the member 22 in the direction in which the wire istravelling.

Member 22 is formed approximately mid-way of its ends with an encirclinggroove 25, preferably of V cross-section, as shown, and reciprocablymounted in housing 20 is a latch 26 the inner end of which is ofcorresponding form and adapted to engage such. groove 25 under thepressure of a spring 21. Plunger or latch 26 not only serves to locatemember 23 in its proper operative pc- I sition in bore 2| butdisplacement of the latch 28 which either directly or through a relaycircuit controls the power line for the motor 3 which drive the severalassociated devices or mechanisms. The effect accordingly of thedisplacement of latch 26 will be to stop the entire machine.

A series of radial apertures 29 provide for free fluid communication atall times between the space defined by the groove 25 in tubular member22 and the hollow interior of said member lying b tween the dies 22.

Conveniently located immediately below housing 20 is a fan chamber illand rotary fan or imlpeller 2|, driven by a motor 32, whereby air undersubstantially constant pressure may be supplied through an orifice 22 insaid housing to the annular V-shap'ed space constituted by the groove 2!in member 22. Such orifice 22 is desirably formed in an interchangeablebushing which serves to regulate the supply of the pressure fluid to theannular chamber in question. In any event, the aperture is gauged sothat when the work-piece W as it passes through the dies 23 will cause apredetermined pressure to be built up within member 22, where suchwork-piece is of desired diameter. However, upon a slight increase insuch diameter such built-up pressure will likewise be increased bycutting of! the escape of Connected with the latch is an electricalswitch and 24a, the inner ends of which are disposed so.

as to communicate with the annular space provided by groove 25 in member22 when the latter is in its normal position in bore 2 I, i. e. withlatch 26 in engagement with such groove. The first of these ducts leadsto a pressure indicator 2! of any type suitable for registering slightchanges in pressure. whereby the pressure established in the manner justdescribed within member 22 may at all times be determined. The otherduct 24a leads to pressure responsive means 22 which serve to adjust thetool that engagesthe work-piece, i. e; in the case of the illustratedmechanism the position of the grinding wheels 6 and 1 relative to eachother.

' Such pressure responsive means include an electrical contact device 21(see Fig. '3), of the type known as a micro-switch, which is normallyopenbut adapted to be closed by upward movement of the weighteddiaphragm ll whenever the pressure beneath such diaphragm builds up to apredetermined point, the position of switch 21 in relation to thediaphragm being adjustable by a set screw 39. As a result the electriccircuit controlled by said switch will be closed whenever the pressure,which is built up in the member 22 by an increase in the diameter of thework-piece, exceeds a predetermined maximum.

The manner in which the relay circuit thus controlled by thepressure-responsive device 22 is utilized to adjust the tool will ofcourse depend upon the character of the latter. For use where twogrinding wheels disposed as previously described are employed, thearrangement 'of tool adjusting device illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6 hasbeen devised. As shown in said figures, each of the grinding wheels-6and l is mounted so as to be adjustable axially of the correspondingdrive shaft through the medium of a threaded shaft 40. Such threadedshaft is adapted to be rotated either manually or automatically throughmeby suitable reduction gearing, e. g. pinion 02 which meshes with alarge internal gear 43-.

included in the circuit controlled by the switch 31 in pressureresponsive device 38. This circuit (see Fig. 1) includes a timing relayfor the purpose of breaking the circuit after a predetermined .number ofseconds. so that the ratchet pawl 46 may return to its initial position.Then if switch I! is still closed, due to above normal pressure beneathdiaphragm 3., the closure of such timing relay will cause the ratchetpawl to be actuated again, and so on until the switch 31 is opened.

Each successive closing of such circuit will serve to sviting'the pawll6 through-a predetermined arc; however. the extent of the engagement ofthe pawl with the ratchet during such swinging movement is regulated bymeans of an adjustable shroud ll so that the ratchet wheel 45, and thusthe screw shaft 40, may be rotated through such degree as desired and somove the grinding wheel axially a correspondingly greater or lesseramount. In other words, the adjustment of such wheel can bemade as fineas required depending upon how closely it is desired to hold thetravelling work-piece-to a given dimension.

It has been considered sufficient to illustrate in detail in Fig. 5 onlyone of these pawl and ratchet drives, viz. that associated with theupper grinding wheel I, since the one associated with the lower grindingwheel will be substantially identi- Indeed the only difference will bein the cal. threading of the shafts III one of which will be left hand,the other right. Instead of thumbviding for the automatic axialadjustment of both grinding wheels 6 and I, it may be in some casessufficient to provide for the adjustment of one such wheel. However.since such adjustment is primarily designed to compensate for thewearing away of the grinding surfaces of the wheels and such wear willoccur to approximately the same extent in the case of each wheel, bothwheels should be simultaneously adjusted and to the same amount.Furthermore, if adjustment is confined to only one wheel the travellingwire or equivalent work-piece may be pushed out of its proper path or atleast caused to bear against the wheel on one side more than on theother.

Adjustment of the grinding wheels 6 and 1 (or of either wheel alonewhere only one is adjustable) will of course cease the moment thediameter of the work-piece has been reduced to a point where thebuilt-up pressure in tubular member 12 has been reduced so that thepressure responsive device I is no longer actuated to close the relaycircuit which includes solenoid I.

It will be understood that for the purpose of initial adjustmentsuitable manual means (not 7 shown) for rotating the threaded shafts 40and 4! will be provided.

The manner in which my improved dimension indicating and control deviceoperates should be sumciently clear from the description already givenof the construction and operation of the component parts of such deviceand of the associated mechanisms, particularly the adjusting mechanismfor the grinding wheels. In order to start the operation, a length ofwire will be drawn from the supply reel I, and after being passedthrough the severaialigned devices will be wound up on take-up reel 2.Where a drawing step is involved, i. e. such wire is passed through adrawing die 4, such take-up reel constitutes in effect a drawing drumaround which the wire may be wound a sufllcient number of times toprovide the necessary pull and thence be carried to a take-up reel. Thegripper rolls III, In of the oscillating device are then adjusted toengage such length of wire with suillcient friction to oscillate thesame in the manner described, and the grinding wheels i and I will beadjusted so that as the wire passes therebetween while being thus 05-'cillated it will be reduced to the desired diameter. A short section mayrequire to be thus reduced by manual operation of the grinding wheelsbefore setting the pressure responsive device 3, but

once such reduced section has passed through the tubular member 22 thefurther operation becomes in effect automatic.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that my improveddimension indicating and control device is capable of operation inconjunction with a rapidly moving work-piece, the-cross-sectionaldimension of which is the object of interest. This is a result which sofar as I am awarehas not heretofore been obtained infany form insocalled pneumatic control. At the same time my improved device orapparatus is effective to control the dimension of such work-piece withany desired degree of refinement. Coupled with the foregoing are meansfor automatically stopping the entire mechanism if through accident orotherwise the means for dimensioning the workpiece should fail properlyto function.

It will be understood that the work-piece need not be of indefinitelength as in the case of a wire and my improved dimension indicating andcon.- trol device still be capable of functioning in connectiontherewith, substantially as described in connection with such wire. Alsosuch wire or other work-piece instead of being torsionall oscillated inorder to present its entire circumferential surface to the tool may beoscillated bodily, or for that matter may be rotated. For such modifiedoperation, the means already described may be utilized, as by passing aworkpiece of discontinuous instead of indefinite length through thepressure chamber with its aligned die-openings. Finally, while thedescribed pressure responsive means for adjusting the position types oftools.

ameter, the strand which is to be drawn is initially surface conditionedin the manner described so as to remove superficial defects and renderthe diameter uniform with very small tolerance, the subsequent reductionof such strand may be carried out with assurance that a satisfactoryproduct will result whereas under present conditions and notinfrequently in the manufacture of fine wire it is found upon inspectionthat the product is imperfect after all of the expense of drawing thesame has been incurred.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any 01' the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out. and dis- 7 tinctly claim as myinvention:

1. In a device of the character described, the

combination of a housing having a cylindrical bore, a tubular memberfitted to such bore, a displaceable latch normally retaining said memberin position, dies in the respective ends of said member providingaligned openings gauged to fit an elongated work-piece moving throughthe chamber thus formed in said member with a predetermined clearancewhere said work-piece is of desired cross-sectionmeans for supplyingfluid under pressure to such chamber, and pressure responsive means incommunication with such chamber, said latch being displaceable torelease said member from said bore upon excessive frictional engagementof such work-piece with said dies.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housinghaving a cylindrical bore. a tubular member fitted to such bore andhaving an encircling groove intermediate of its ends and communicatingwith its interior, a spring-pressed latch engaging such groove to retainsaid member in position, dies in the respective ends of said memberproviding aligned openings gauged to fit an elongated work piece movingthrough the chamber thu formed in said member with a predeterminedclearance where said work-piece is of desired cross-section, saidhousing having pressure fluid supply and 'discharge passagescommunicating with such encircling groove when said member is thuspeeltioned, and pressure responsive meansconnected with such fluiddischarge passage, said latch being displaceable to release said memberfrom said bore upon excessive frictional engagement of such work-piecewith said dies.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of ahousing,='having--a cylindrical bore, a tubular member fitted to suchbore and having an encircling groove intermediate of its ends andcommunicating with its interior, a

spring-pressed latch engaging such groove to retain said member inposition, dies in therespective ends of said member providing alignedopenings gauged to fit an elongated work-piece moving through thechamber 'thus formed in said member with a predetermined clearance wherecombination of a tubular member, dies in the respective ends of saidmember providing aligned openings gauged to fit an elongated work-piecemoving through the chamber thus formed in said member with apredetermined clearance wherev said work-piece is of desiredcross-section, means for supplying fluid under pressure to such chamber,pressure responsive means in communication with such chamber, saidmember being displaceamazes v I able by excessive frictional engagementof such work-piece with said dies. and means operable by displacement ofsaid membcritp stop move- V ment oi said work-piece.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housinghaving a cylindrical bore, a tubular member fitted to such bore, adisplaceable latch normally retaining said member in position, dies inthe respective ends'oi said member providing aligned openings gauged toflt an elongated work-piece moving through the chamber thus formed insaid member with a predetermined clearance where said work-piece is ofdesired cross-section, means for supplying fluid under pressure to suchchamber, pressure responsive means incommunication with such chamber,said latch being displaceable to release said member from said bore uponexcessive trictional engagement of such work-piece with said dies, andmeans operable by displacement of said latch to stop movement oi saidwork-piece.

6. In a device 01' the character described, the combination of a tubularmember, dies in the respective ends of said member providing alignedopenings gauged to fit an elongated work-piece moving through thechamber thus formed in said member with a predetermined clearance wheresaid work-piece is of desired cross-section, means for supplying fluidunder pressure to such chamber, pressure responsive means incommunication with such chamber. an adjustably mounted grinding wheeladapted to engage such work-piece in advance of its-passage through suchchamber, adjustment oi said wheel being controlled by said pressureresponsive means, said member being displaceable by excessive-i'rictional engagement or such work-piece with said dial. and meansoperable by displacement of said member to interrupt operation of saidgrinding wheel.

'7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fluidpressure chamber having aligned openings gauged to nt an elongatedworkpiece moving through said chamber with a pre determined clearancewhere such work-piece is 01' desired cross-section, a grinding wheeladapted to laterally engage such work-piece in advance of its passagethrough said chamber, said grinding wheel being axially adjustable,means in-' cluding a ratchet wheel adapted to move said grinding wheeltowards the work-piece. a pawl adapted to impart step-by-step rotativemovement to said ratchet wheel, and e'lectro-magnetic means responsiveto an increase of pressure in said chamber adapted to actuate said pawl.

8. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination of a fluidpressure chamber having aligned openings gauged to iii: an elongatedworkpiece moving through said chamber with a predetermined clearancewhere such work-piece is of desired cross-section, means adapted tooscillate the work-piece about its axis as it thus moves, a grindingwheel adapted to laterally engage such work-piece in advance of itspassage through said chamber, said grinding wheel being axiallyadjustable, means including a ratchet wheel adapted to move saidgrinding wheel towards the work-piece, a pawl adapted to impartstep-by-step rotative movement to said ratchet wheel. andelectro-magnetic means responsive to an'increase of pressure in saidchamber adapted to actuate said pawl.

9. In adevice of the character described, the combination of a fluidpressure chamber having aligned openings caused to fit an elongatedworkpiece moving through said chamber with a predetermined clearancewhere such work-piece is of desired cross-section, means adapted tooscillate the work-piece about .it axis as it thus moves, two grindingwheels having overlapping lateral faces disposed to engage suchwork-piece between them in advance of its passage through said chamber,said grinding wheels being axially adjustable, and means responsive toan increase of pressure in said chamber adapted simultaneously to moveboth said grinding wheels towards such work-piece.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fluidpressure chamber having aligned openings gauged to fit an elongatedworkpiece moving through said chamber with a predetermined clearancewhere such work-piece is of desired cross-section, means adapted tooscillate the Work-piece about its axis as it thus moves, two grindingwheels having overlapping lateral faces disposed to engage suchwork-piece between them in advance of its passage through said chamber,said grinding wheels being axial1y adjustable, means including a ratchetwheel adapted simultaneously to move both said grinding wheels towardssuch Work-piece, a pawl adapted to impart step-by-step rotative movementto said ratchet wheel, and electro-magnetic means responsive to anincrease of pressure in said chamber adapted to actuate said pawl.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of afluid-pressure chamber having aligned openings gauged to fit anelongated workpiece moving through said chamber with a predeterminedclose clearance where such workpiece is of desired cross-section, saidchamber being of substantially larger cross-section than such work-pieceand being displaceable upon excessive frictional engagement of thelatter with such openings, and means operable by displacement of saidchamber to stop movement of said workpiece.

12. In a device of the character described, the

combination of a fluid-pressure chamber having aligned openings gaugedto fit an elongated workpiece moving through said chamber with apredetermined close clearance where such workpiece is of desiredcross-section, said chamber being of substantially larger cross-sectionthan such work-piece and being displaceable upon excessive frictionalengagement of the latter with such r openings, means operable bydisplacement of said chamber to stop movement of said work-piece. andfluid-pressure responsive indicating means in free communication withsaid chamber.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of afluid-pressurechamber having aligned openings gauged to fit an elongatedworkpiece moving through said chamber with a predetermined closeclearance where such work-piece is of desired cross-section, saidchamber being of substantially larger cross-section than such workpieceand being displaceable upon excessive frictional engagement of thelatter with such openings, means operable by displacement of saidchamber to stop movement of said work-piece, an adjustably mounted tooladapted to engage such work-piece in advance of its passage through saidchamber, and fluid-pressure responsive control means for adjusting saidtool, said means being in free communication with said chamber.

NORMAN H. NYE.

